Record high 60 percent of Americans now back legalizing marijuana: Gallup Poll
Record high 60 percent of Americans now back legalizing marijuana: Gallup Poll
By Tribune news services – Contact Reporter, Chicago Tribune, October 19 2016
Diners smoke pot as they eat dishes prepared by chefs during an evening of pairings between fine food and different marijuana strains in Lyons, Colo., a state with legal recreational marijuana. (Brennan Linsley / AP)
A record high 60 percent of American adults support legalization of marijuana, according to a new Gallup poll released three weeks before voters in nine states decide whether to expand legal access to pot.
When Gallup first asked about this issue in 1969, 12 percent of Americans supported legalization. By 2000, support had increased to 31 percent and has continued climbing since then, reaching 58 percent last year.
Recreational use of marijuana is currently legal in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and the District of Columbia. Depending on the Election Day outcome, they could be joined by Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada.
Three other states — Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota — will be deciding whether to permit marijuana for medical purposes. Montanans will vote on whether to ease restrictions on an existing medical marijuana law.
According to Gallup's new poll, released on Wednesday, 67 percent of Democrats support legalization, compared to 42 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of independents. Support among adults aged 18-34 was 77 percent, compared to 45 percent among those over 55.
The poll was based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 5-9 with a random sample of 1,017 adults living in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Gallup said the margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Gallup's findings were similar to those in a survey released Oct. 12 by the Pew Research Center. It found that 57 percent of U.S. adults supported legalization of marijuana, up from 32 percent a decade earlier.
Tom Angell, chairman of the pro-legalization group Marijuana Majority, said the two polls suggested that prospects were good for the state ballot measures.
"More politicians — presidential candidates included — would do themselves a big favor to take note of the clear trend," he said in an email.
Associated Press
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Looks like the liquor, tobacco and prescription drug lobbies are fighting a losing battle.
Looks like the liquor, tobacco and prescription drug lobbies are fighting a losing battle.
And there's one other special interest group-- who's pouring YUGE sums of money into efforts to oppose legalization-- the Mexican Drug Cartels.
It will be legalized-- but step by step. Slowly-- one state after another.
And eventually the federal law will be changed.
"Support among adults aged 18-34 was 77 percent, compared to 45 percent among those over 55."
In the words of the Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-Changin'
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
True.
As it should be.